Worry

by Jessica Westhead

Jessica Westhead's WORRY, pitched as a novel for readers of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE and TRULY MADLY GUILTY, about an anxious, overprotective mother who brings her four-year-old daughter to the remote family cottage of the woman who has been her best friend - and her husband's best friend - for years, and where over forty-eight tension-filled hours, old and new resentments surface alongside a mother's constant worry for her child and the appearance of a mysterious neighbor.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Contemporary, Literary Fiction

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2019

About the author

JESSICA WESTHEAD is a Toronto writer and editor, and one of the short-story-loving masterminds behind YOSS (Year of the Short Story). Her fiction has appeared in major literary journals in Canada and the United States, including Geist, The New Quarterly, and Indiana Review. Her novel Pulpy & Midge was published in 2007 by Coach House Books. Her short story collection And Also Sharks, published by Cormorant Books in 2011, was on the Globe and Mail’s Globe 100 list of the best books of 2011 and was a finalist for the 2012 Danuta Gleed Literary Award. She was shortlisted for the 2009 CBC Literary Awards, and one of her stories was selected for the 2011 Journey Prize anthology.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

WORRY by Jessica Westhead was longlisted for Canada Reads 2020. I love the attractive cover. I enjoyed reading this novel, which I may have missed if it wasn't brought to my attention. Thank you Canada Reads.

Worry is the perfect title for this book because Ruth spends most of her time worrying about her daughter Fern.
Jessica Westhead shows two opposite types of parenting - "helicopter"parents like Ruth and James, and carefree "easy come, easy go" parents like Sammy and Stephanie.

"A captivating novel about a mother's all-consuming worry for her child over forty-eight hours with old friends and a mysterious neighbour at a remote cottage."
- Quote from inside flap on book

Although Worry kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen next, I would not call it a thriller. I read the book quickly and was satisfied with the unexpected ending.
3.8 stars rounded up to 4. ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Overall, this work overwhelmed me with its ache and intolerable grief. It is full of resentments, regrets and unfinished conversations. I appreciated the complex characters and the everchanging perspective offered in this book, but at times found it difficult to finish.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at two very different parenting styles, with a few issues from the past thrown in. I didn't warm up to any of the characters, though. The humor is mean spirited, the dialogue is "off" somehow. Yet I kept reading to find out what caused Ruth's anxiety and the antagonism between her and Stef.

Ruth and Stef have very different parenting styles. They are polar opposites in this way. What made Ruth so anxious? Is it the World today with all it's fears and bad bogeymen? Why does Stef allow her kids to be so rude and mean?
Yet, that's how parenting is. Each family makes their own choices. Friends make the differences work and the kids all get along and they are friends. It works in the end. Each generation finds their way. Perhaps this is the author's point and she uses extremes to focus on this.

Also mixed into this is the idea of friendship. What makes a good friend? What bonds people together? What is loyalty? The answer to these questions in this book is surprising.

A bit of an uneven read in terms of dialogue, reactions, actions but an interesting look at parenting and friendship.

[Lisa Hardcastle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even sure what I just read. It went in and out of time with characters that I didn’t give a crap about. A story of two wildly different parenting styles with some evil flashes and deeply depressed neighbours. A whole lot of nothingness in a couple hundred pages.

[Alison Jacques · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*. Super fast read. I really liked the writing — more than the content, if that makes sense. I found the toxic friendship a bit heavy handed. So much of the book made me feel sad, and some parts really made me squirm (so, it was effective). I’m not sure what I think about the ending, but the fact that I’m thinking about it after finishing the book is a strength. This won’t be for everyone. But I’ll read more of this author’s work.

[Charlene Schram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to ditch this one after about 50 pages, but I figured I could stick with it because it was so short. I didn't like any of the characters and I thought the characters were developed rather poorly. Sometimes in a story there are loose ends to keep you thinking about the characters after you finish the book, but I just found it to be kind of sloppy.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this book came with a warning that it is about infertility. This is not obvious from the synopsis.

I also found her writing was hard to follow because the flashbacks - that did add to the story - were not obvious flashbacks and had me rereading pages to make sure I understood the timelines properly.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the tension built in the story and so I kept reading. But I sure didn't like the characters. The dialogue felt abrupt and the ending was disappointing.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique and engaging read. At first I was WORRIED that I'd relate too much and this book would bring me down. In fact what it did was remind me that my level of parental worry is probably just about right - I fall in between the two extremes in this book, and I'm good with that.

The book was more of a "thriller" by the end than I expected too. There was a certain tension throughout the whole thing, climaxing in the last 30 pages or so. I don't read a lot of thrillers, so when I found myself alone on the main floor of my house in the dark except for the one light above me on the couch beside some dark windows, I had to quickly shut the book and head upstairs to bed to deal with the minor "fear" running through my veins from the read! Funny - it is really not that scary, just kind of new territory for me.

Would have been a good book for Canada Reads, I think, and I'm sorry it didn't make the short list. Would certainly have opened up good discussion around parenting styles, assumptions about others, relationships between friends, spouses, trust, etc.

[JennieWithTheBooks☮️(◕‿◕✿) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica Westhead does a great job in capturing that nagging feeling of - as much as you are trying to be in the present, and enjoy being a parent, there's still so very much stuff to be anxious about in this day and age. In this sense, that underlying anxiety incited a sense of worry and constant concern from me, for what was happening to her main character Ruth and her young daughter Fern. For the majority of the novel, I felt like I was never quite sure of the whole picture but as Westhead continued to use moments from Ruth's past to build tension, it actually helped to explain and understand her current situation.

Westhead also shows the other end of parenting children through Ruth's "best friend" Stef's actions. She was a "pretty much anything goes" type of parent. Stef had no worries. The further into the book you get, you realize that Ruth and Stef share a very, very complicated past. WORRY becomes as much a reflection on adult relationships as it is about a parent desperately wanting to make the best choices for their child. Ruth and Stef have drastically opposing views on child rearing that's for sure, but towards the end of the book another prominent character explains rather well why this may be. It had something to do with mothers who have experienced infertility and or pregnancy loss. They have spent so much of their time wanting and hoping, grieving the loss of a life they wanted so badly, that when it does arrive, they can't get comfortable with the reality of it. It's difficult for them to embrace and enjoy something they fear will be taken from them because it has been taken from them before...

Pg184 "Because if nothing ever goes wrong along the way you get to the end and you have your child, but you don't appreciate them. Not in the same way... But when you have a hard time, you get to the end and you have your child, and you're grateful every day... Gratitude makes life better. Without it, life is just something to get through."

...that made sense to me in many ways. When you're reading a book, or anything for that matter, it's like you're rewriting it for yourself. You bring to the book all of your experiences from the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.

Who is friend and who is foe? What is safety and what's a threat? This book will have you wondering those very things right up to the last few pages. I liked that!

3 ⭐⭐⭐'s for Jessica Westhead's WORRY

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth is the over-protective mother to her four-year old, Fern. They arrive at the cottage of her best friend, Stef, to spend a week with Stef and her family. Stef has been her best friend forever, but there is an underlying tension between the two which isn’t helped by the fact that Stef’s childrearing practices are totally opposite to those of Ruth. The story goes back and forth between the first 48 hours at the cottage, and Ruth and Stef’s past, and slowly the bigger picture starts to emerge. In the meantime, Stef’s neighbour Marvin joins them and although Stef feels he’s harmless enough, Ruth gets worrisome vibes which eventually prove to be more than just her usual “worrying”.

This is one of those books that draws you in and you can’t put it down until you find out what the heck is going on, both in Ruth/Stef’s past and in the present with the mysterious Marvin. What has made Ruth into the compulsive worrier that she’s become? Why is Marvin’s wife so reclusive? And what’s with Marvin’s attention to the children?

This is a super-fast read due to its size and also simply the fact that it’s impossible to put down once you start reading it. I’m not even sure why I enjoyed it so much. I just did!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s not a thriller but has you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. Westhead is a wonderful writer, and I think this will be her breakout book.

[Aimee Massey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book could just as easily have been "The Seven Deadly Sins" because during the course of two alcohol-soaked days at a wildly extravagant vacation house on the lake, this famous septet is on full display; sloth and gluttony make appearances, but pride, jealousy and wrath predominate.
None of the characters are likable. Stef is almost psychopathically manipulative and arrogant. Her husband sammy has about three brain cells, two of which are fighting. Their verbal exchanges sound like dialogue from a forgettable sitcom, and Stef talks mostly in brittle and long-winded wisecracks.
Stef and Sammy's twins, Amelia and Isabelle, ar mouthy, destructive and almost completely undisciplined.
Ruth is like a robot, a robot programmed to be a good, by-the-book mother to her daughter Fern, whom she smothers and tries to protect from every possible bad experience. Her husband James is kind and a bit more sensible than Ruth, but he is fairly spineless and he may or may not be having or have had an affair with Stef.
Fern, at three-and-a-half, is Ruth's miracle baby, born after several miscarriages and a stillbirth. She is cliched-adorable, but still manages to be irritating in her own way, and she is finally beginning to chafe under Ruth's neurotic protectiveness. Fern is not particularly believable; she talks more like a five-year-old. And while most of the story depends on Ruth's deep love for Fern, I wouldn't define whatever she feels as love. It was more like a kind of joyless possessiveness. Fern is a thing she wanted, wanted desperately to the exclusion of everything else, and the fact that for a long time she couldn't have a child just made her want one more. And once she finally got one, and she no longer had this insatiable hunger, a lot of her whole personality and life was gone and she was stuck with this kid who was often bratty or demanding and needed much more of Ruth's time and attention than Ruth probably imagined.
The "mysterious" neighbor,Marvin, is the most interesting of the group, and seems to serve as the McGuffin. He is also the most likable of the characters, but even he seems artificial.
This bunch play-acts their way through the vacation; bantering, drinking, taking potshots at each other, pretending it's all in fun, and above all, pretending to have a wonderful time.
I didn't really care about any of them, yet I did want to see what was going on and how it would end. So I kept on reading. The secrets revealed were predictable by the time I'd read that far, and the ending was unsatisfying. But Westhead did do a good job of hooking me and making me curious enough not to abandon the (mercifully short) book.

[Meagan Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Westhead's work in the past, impressed by her quirky style and unforgettable characterization. "Worry" brought all the same charm and quirkiness I've grown to expect, along with some unexpected poignancy. Westhead writes with such evident compassion, such perceptive Truth-telling and boundless kindness, and it makes her writing irresistible. It's a trippy book, sprinkled with flashbacks and confusing asides, but if you read with care and attention, you'll be richly rewarded.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Canada Reads book. It was such a tension filled character study. Well done!

[Ann Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

WORRY is a thoughtful and multilayered book that explores the many factors—both personal and societal—that might cause a parent to retreat to a place of worry. Initially, the reader isn’t quite sure why the main character, Ruth, seems to spends so much time worrying about her four-year-old daughter, but, over time, those worries begin to make sense. At the start of the novel, we sense that something is wrong, but it takes us a long time to figure out what that “something” is (almost as long as it takes Ruth to acknowledge that “something” to herself). The result is a psychologically complex and highly captivating novel that insists that you keep turning pages as a way to relieve your own worry about what’s going to happen to these characters.

[Enid Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pushover for a good psychological thriller/mystery/whatever - especially when it has to do with adult/marital relationships - I found this a most interesting read… skillfully executed by the author. By page 20 I thoroughly disliked Ruth… indeed I was yelling in my head telling her to ‘chill’ and to ‘relax.’ I can’t think of the last time I met such an uptight character in a book. Not much further in I was equally disliking Stef, and completely unable to relate to the dynamic holding the two ‘lifelong best friends’ together… but I was intrigued to want to know more and found that I was compelled to keep reading.

By the end, I understood their relationship - ever thankful that I am not so riddled with anxiety - but I get that this is the reality of the times we live in for many… and the author paints the picture with stunning accuracy and simplicity. And, even with all of the breadcrumbs dropped along the way, there were still surprises to be had as I continued reading.

The narrative structure is also most interesting in the way it jumps back and forth in time… all within a line or two. The first few times it happened I had to re-read the page to understand the time shift that had just taken place, but after a few times it became a natural occurrence and worked seamlessly - for me, although I can appreciate that it might be disconcerting for some.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin with the book cover art is striking and evocative...I would easily consider hanging it on my wall and it drew my attention.

The weaving of past and present to expand our understanding of Ruth and the source of her worries is subtle but effective. I don’t always enjoy timelines that skip around but the use of it in this story felt undisruptive, gentle, just right...coming when you don’t know you need it but you do.

There’s a great deal of dialogue used and it’s authentic. Each character’s voice is clear and lets you in a little more as the layers are revealed... It furthers the storyline but doesn’t feel like it was placed there just for that purpose.

The writing makes you want to read slowly, to consider the nuance, but pushes you forward to peel back what’s inferred...the story beckons.

The writing is beautiful and entrancing. It builds tension in a way that seems impossible given the beauty it evokes.

[Crystal L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not love this book. I think I stuck with it so I could see what was really going on with Ruth and Stef's friendship. I found most of the characters frustrating. Ruth and Stef's friendship was irritating and seemed almost toxic, not the kind of relationship I would want to experience. The book explored two different parenting techniques; you had the helicopter mom and the mom who was raising spoiled, rude children who would probably turn out to be out-of-control teens (although you come to understand why the parenting approaches were what they were). I also found there were parts jumping back and forth in the past and present (with no obvious separation) that just didn't seem to flow and I found confusing.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be a very uncomfortable read. I think because I have known people like the Stef's and the Sammy's of the world and how difficult it is to be with them. Stef treated Ruth so horribly that I kept wondering why they had any relationship at all. However, as information is doled out to the reader about how their friendship (since childhood) has evolved along with other details about the relationship, the reader begins to understand. In the end, the book had a reasonably satisfying ending with some twists and turns along the way. Two stars - "it was OK".

[Marc · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like anything about this book. I won't spoil it for new readers but the surprise ending just didn't seem believable. Indeed, none of the dialogue seemed natural. The words spoken by the children is just too sophisticated for the age (Fern=4 years old). The characters were too artificial, and just not likable. The main character Ruth, is just too needy and neurotic for me to handle.

[Monica Bodirsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Gripping from start to finish.

[Emily Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really have to ponder when I think on how I want to write this review.

This book was fantastic, let me start with that. Quite honestly, I experienced such strong emotions while reading it that at times I wanted to put it down, but I persevered and am a better person for it.
Westhead's writing is astonishing. She is so real, so deep, and somehow managed to express complexes and thoughts that lie buried below the human surface.

Her main character feels a deep anxiety about her fragile happiness, and I think everyone can relate to that, whether or not they realize it. The book is more of an exploration of the human psyche, I think, than much of plot-pusher, but Westhead tosses in a few twists and shocks to keep the actual story going. The big twist truly made me gasp, and I was absolutely spellbound for the last third of the book.

It's so wonderful to have these Canadian authors being recognized, and I hope we get more and more of Jessica Westhead.

[Diane Melanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canada Reads' selections have always led me to novels by writers which I may not have otherwise read. Worry is a worthy choice for their list this year. On the surface, it may seem as if the novel is dealing with the polar opposite styles of parenting by Ruth, the constant worrier, and Stef, a much more free-spirited style of parent. It is due to Westhead's writing that I felt both sympathetic and annoyed with the characters. Although I may not like them, I uncomfortably felt some twinges of recognition of my own emotions during the early years of parenting my own children. The novel takes place during a 48 hour visit to Stef's cottage . While there and dealing with her own high levels of anxiety, Ruth revisits their childhood, examining their friendship and their relationships with their own parents.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t quite make it to 5 stars, but I’d almost give it 4.5 - maybe 4.25. Lyrical writing that wove an ominous dreamscape around the characters, in particular lawnmower mom Ruth. A complicated, and dare I say somewhat toxic, relationship connects the two families, especially the two women. The events of the cottage getaway build toward something dark and are effectively interspersed with flashbacks that elaborate on why the present tension exists between Ruth and Steph. I thought the climax would be even darker than it was, and although it was disturbing, it was also sad. Loved that this was a Canadian book: set in Cottage Country, colour spelled with a “u” as it should be! A quick, well-written Canadian read.

[Jessica Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay a new Jessica Westhead novel!!

I was so stressed out the entire time while reading this! What was going to happen? Why was the relationship between Ruth and Stef so tense? Where was Marvin's wife? Where was James? Was something bad going to happen to the kids?

This is an interesting examination of the types of motherhood that we can inherit and perpetuate, and how a life-long friendship could carry more weight than wonder.

It was tense but I flew through it, needing to know what was going to happen, waiting for someone to snap.

Yes it's about a cottage weekend but no, it's not a relaxing one :p

Can't wait to see what Jessica does next!

[Cmw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt so worried when reading this book
Why did Ruth leave a 3 year old to roam out of sight so much in a strange environment? I wouldn’t have let my 10 year loose that much
So the title definitely fit the scene
I also would have dumped Stef as a friend decades ago
So Ruth has deep insecurities and her own parents didn’t even deal with that...
Interesting characters. Not always fully developed or believable though.

[Chinook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a parent who worries, so this book really spoke to me. I want to be more Stef and less Ruth, but I don’t think these things are entirely in a parent’s control.

I found the friendship with all its resentments and tensions to be quite true to life, particularly in sibling relationships. And those hints of the past incidents with creepy men and the marital relationship with James - I wish he’d shown up in person at some point.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one. As a self-professed helicopter parent (I own it!), it certainly touched on a few nerves. And yet, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. And I wasn't sure how these two women ever maintained a friendship beyond their adolescence, and so certain choices seemed entirely unbelievable. I'm left feeling . . . perplexed? Certainly not satisfied. The writing itself was at least solid enough.

[Dianne Koebel-Pede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worry is ones of those books you want to get to the end of quickly, so you can stop worrying about what terrible event is going to happen. The protagonist's anxiety is like a runaway train and you also have to keep reading to find out what caused it. Turns out, the past and the future are both heartbreakers. Any parent who has worried for their child, may see a little of themselves in Ruth. A great read.